Tourism bosses call for redesign of Government's 'Stay and Spend' initiative

Revenue figures show just €2.2m has been reclaimed by consumers to date

Irish Tourism Industry Confederation CEO Eoghan O'Mara Walsh has called for a total overhaul of the Government's "flawed" Stay and Spend tourism spend scheme.

Tourism bosses have called for a redesign and broadening of the Government’s Stay and Spend initiative, after figures from Revenue showed just €2.2m has been reclaimed by consumers to date.

Valued at €270m, Stay and Spend was launched as the main tourism aid in the July stimulus package in a bid to promote consumer spending in the hospitality sector.